Mitt Romney vetos budget item that would keep jobs in MA

The 2005 budget for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts contained a line iitem that would require all companies contracted to do work for the Commonwealth keep the jobs in Massachusetts:

SECTION 21. The first paragraph of section 54 of said chapter 7,
as appearing in the 2002 Official Edition, is herby amended by
inserting after paragraph (1) the following paragraph:--

(1A) The agency shall prepare a written statement that
the services proposed to be the subject of the privatization
contract shall not be provided by labor based or employed
outside the United States. No agency shall make a
privatization contract and no such contract shall be valid
if the services provided are from labor based or employed
outside the United States.

Governor Romney is on the record stating that he is very concerned about outsourcing, and that he wants to stop the flow of jobs
out of the Commonwealth:

"I am very concerned about outsourcing. The reality of today's
business climate is that a growing number of companies are
sending their best jobs out of state.
Whether it's the loss of one job or 100,000 jobs, it's
a very real issue for all of us. These common sense initiatives
will help slow outsourcing and speed up insourcing."
--Governor Mitt Romney, March 22, 2004

However, Governor Romney seems to have reversed his earlier
commitment to creating jobs for the citizens of Massachussets.
He vetoed the outsourcing line item.

"Offshore Outsourcing
Section 21
I am vetoing this section because it could hurt taxpayers by increasing
costs for future or existing administrative operations and make
Massachusetts a less business-friendly environment.--Governor Mitt Romney, June 25, 2004

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO KEEP JOBS IN MA?

Romney's veto is not the final word on this line item.
The line item can still be overturned by the state legislature.
The legislature needs to hear from the citizens of the Commonwealth
so that they understand the people want a ban on outsourcing
state contracts to foreign countries.

The House leadership, in particular Tom Finneran, decides which items
will be taken up for a veto override vote.
If the House passes the override, the Senate will have to vote on it as well.

It is vital that you call, write, and/or email your state representative. Go to this link:

The form allows you to enter your street address, and it will give you
the names of all your elected officials. You are looking for your "Rep in General Court". If you click on your Representative's name, you will get to a web page with all of their contact information.
Be sure to get the information for your "Senate in General Court".

Here is what you want to let your representative know:

Ask your rep to support a veto override of Governor Romney's veto of Section 21 to stop sate contractors from outsourcing jobs abroad

Ask your rep to speak with House Speaker Finneran and ask that the House be allowed to vote on a veto override of Governor Romney's veto of this law to stop state contractors from outsourcing jobs abroad.

The procedure for contacting your Senator is virtually the same:

Ask your Senator to support the veto override

Ask your Senator to speak to Senate President Travaglini to schedule a veto override vote if the House first passes the veto override.

See the sidebar for more background information. Please share this page with everyone you know who has been impacted negatively about outsourcing.